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He works with Cercle Brugge and joined William Carvalho, Nuno Reis, Renato Neto, Amido Baldé and dozens of Brazilians in the capital of the West Flanders province. This Tuesday they support Sporting and that is not why they are facing their city rivals.
BRUGGE — William Carvalho, European champion and commander of the order of Merit, spent a year and a half in Brugge before returning to Sporting and following the path he knows. In 2012 and 2013, few people were as crucial to the current Betis player as Ricardo Almeida, 57, a Portuguese from Setúbal who has lived in the Belgian city for 39 years.
Ricardo operates four bars at the jan Breydel Stadion, where Sporting will face Club brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday. Along with William,he helped,over the years,the integration of various Portuguese players (Nuno Reis,Amió Baldé) and Brazilians who played for Cercle Brugge,the other club in the city that shares the center with the Leonine combat now and for it works. Mainly Brazilian, so that’s where it all started. But come on.
The woman’s brother is an ardent fan of Cercle Brugge and started bringing Ricardo to the club. Nine years after being in the city, with Flamengo already doing well, the club’s Brazilian players needed translation help.Ricardo Almeida, a real estate agent until then, offered his services to the club which he learned to like in the meantime and never left Cercle again. « A year and a half later the possibility came to inspect a bar at the stadium and I didn’t let it go. ther are four of us today”, says the HOME.
Even today, he keeps in touch with William, Reis, Baldé and especially Renato Neto, a Brazilian midfielder trained at Sporting who also benefited from the protocol that existed at the time between the Lions and Cercle Brugge to play on loan.The return to Alvalade, unlike William, was not productive. He passed through Hungary and ended up returning to Belgium, where he never left. He still plays for a lower level club, he married a Belgian and Ricardo Almeida is the father of one of his children.
Much of Ricardo’s time is spent managing the bars at Jan Breydel (“when there is a match against Club Brugge and our house is there, I have to hire many employees to inspect all the bars in the stadium!”), who he says), but the job continues to help Portuguese speakers, now with the three Brazilians that Cercle Brugge have in their squad.
He travels to Portugal several times (“my wife loves the Algarve”) and few things give him as much pleasure as listening to Portuguese being spoken on the streets of Brugge, as it happens on the these occasions. That is basically why Ricardo, who is a Porto fan, supports Sporting next Tuesday. “I love being with Portuguese people, hearing our language on the street, seeing people partying in this beautiful city. Its not that I’m against our rivals who support Sporting, but I’m from Portugal.”
What unique challenges do foreign football players face when integrating into clubs in Belgium?
An Insightful Conversation with Ricardo Almeida: Bridging Cultures in Brugge
Interview by Time.news Editor
Q: Ricardo,you’ve been in Brugge for nearly four decades.can you share what initially drew you to this city and the football community there?
A: Absolutely! My journey to Brugge began with my passion for football and culture. A friend’s brother, an ardent Cercle Brugge fan, introduced me to the club. At that time, I was intrigued by the vibrant football culture in Belgium. When I saw how the clubs, particularly Cercle Brugge, embraced players from different backgrounds, especially Brazilians, I realized I wanted to be part of this community.
Q: You played a significant role in supporting players like william Carvalho and others from Portugal and Brazil.How did you help them integrate into the local culture?
A: Integration is key. When Brazilian players arrived, many faced language barriers. I initially stepped in as a translator,leveraging my understanding of the culture and providing a sense of belonging. over the years, I developed relationships with players like William and Renato Neto. It was rewarding to assist them in adapting not just to the club, but to the city itself.
Q: Managing bars at Jan Breydel Stadion must be quite an undertaking! Can you describe a typical match day for you?
A: Match days are hectic yet exhilarating! when we host Club Brugge, as an example, I have to ensure all four bars are staffed and ready. We anticipate large crowds, and it’s crucial to provide a great experience for fans. It’s a blend of excitement, pressure, and community spirit. Seeing Portuguese fans gather and celebrate makes it all worthwhile.
Q: With the growing number of portuguese-speaking players in Cercle Brugge, how crucial do you think this community atmosphere is for their performance on the field?
A: It’s incredibly important. A supportive community helps players feel at home, which can enhance their performance. When players speak the same language and share similar cultural backgrounds, it fosters camaraderie.This support network is vital, especially when they face challenges, as it creates a safe space for them both on and off the field.
Q: You still maintain connections with many former players. How does that impact yoru role in the Brugge football surroundings?
A: Keeping in touch with players like William and Renato enriches my experience. Thes connections amplify my role, enabling me to provide insights back to current players about navigating life in Brugge. It’s rewarding to see them flourish and to know that I contributed to their integration in some way.
Q: Looking ahead,what advice would you give to new players coming to clubs like Cercle Brugge?
A: my advice would be to embrace the new environment fully. Engage with the local culture,learn the language,and reach out for help when needed. Building relationships is crucial. There’s a wealth of support within the community—don’t hesitate to connect with locals or fellow players. It can considerably enhance both your personal and professional experience.
Q: Lastly, what does support for your clubs, like Sporting, mean to you as you continue to live abroad?
A: Supporting Sporting while being abroad is a way to stay connected to my roots. There’s an indescribable joy in hearing Portuguese being spoken and mingling with fellow fans in Brugge.Though I support my local club, having that link to Portugal and its football culture is deeply fulfilling. It’s all part of a larger community, and I cherish that.
This conversation shines a light on the harmonious blend of sports, culture, and community that Ricardo Almeida has cultivated over nearly four decades in Brugge, highlighting the importance of integration for players in foreign environments.
